Chapter 3
New being
Riku ran over to Namine, worry in his eyes. "Namine... are you alright?" He asked, looking down at her. She was unconscious. But she was still breathing, she needed rest and she would be fine. But rest in the darkness was not good. Darkness consumed the mind as it slept in this place, one who did not know how to handle it would be overpowered easily- Namine could wake up and instantly turn on him due to Ansems grasp. Ansem, that heartless monster... Riku brought Namine along and now she would pay the price due to his foolishness, he could feel her heart beating softly against his chest as he held her, but he felt darkness within her as well. He needed to find light. Light... she was light. Could she be the door out of this place? Smiling, Riku held her and concentrated on her presence. Light was streaming out from her soul; he felt her energy well up inside him. The darkness within him vanished as the great Tsunami of light swept through his consciousness. He could think clearly. The door lay just ahead. That way. Smiling, Riku picked Namine up and ran towards the spot of light he felt on the horizon, and sure enough... there it was. A white door. Light streaming out from it. But as he stepped forward, Riku felt a presence behind him. Turning, Riku saw a hooded figure. He knew that form all too well.
"ANSEM!" He yelled, his grip on Namine tightening. But the voice that answered back was not that of his old master... it was cold and shrill, high and yet deep.
"I am not Ansem. Ansem was insignificant; I brought his soul into mine- his arms and legs I had no use for." Rikus eyes widened as he remembered how Ansem seemed to not have been himself in that instant- his soul had been devoured the moment Riku had struck him. "Do not think you have gotten to the light yet, Riku. You are not the one who opened the door. It was Sora. Sora, who you betrayed, Sora who trusted you. You turned to darkness. Go too close to the light and you will be returned to it once more. Your path is impossible." Riku stood there, his face grim. Sora, he had tried to kill him... "A path of light and darkness can never succeed. You will only end up destroying yourself. Listen to me, boy. Ansem was not a suitable master for you. He was weak. He lost to that weakling, Sora." Riku looked at the stranger angrily.
"Sora could beat you any day, and so could I, so I suggest-"
"Leaving before you hurt me? I can read your mind, Riku. You feel guilt for what you did to Sora. I can make your guilt go away..."
"Guilt will always be there, but it is what I have learned from. I will follow my path, and I... I will protect Namine if she decides to come with me on that road!" The hooded figure seemed to shake in anger. Riku looked on as the cloak vanished, and Ansem stood before him- no... this being looked like Ansem, but it was different. The darkness... and the light... seemed enshrouded in the mist within it.
"The only thing you have learned, boy, is how to be weak. Ansems body suits me quite well; weak as he was he had a fair amount of skill. But I believe a change is in order..." Speaking these words, the strange thing standing before Riku seemed to shift. Some of the flesh on him in certain areas seemed to melt away, leaving raw, black skin underneath. His eyes changed- the pupils seemed to vanish and it looked like drops of blood were in its place instead- marbles of blood. Four black wings sprouted from his back through his skin, causing dark blood to drip down his body. His hair glowed bright, and seemed to get older- centuries old, almost antique silk. He looked like Ansem, the same Ansem... but with eyes of forbidden truth and a presence of death. Riku could tell he wasn't dealing with anything living... or dead, for that matter. It seemed like something else, something like... a dark god.
"WHO ARE YOU?" Riku yelled, not forgetting about Namine who he still held to his chest.
"Names, mortals give names to know the difference between one another. That is because you are all the same, worker ants in an anthill. Who would ever know the difference? A pitiful polluted anthill. If you wish to go by your precious names, call me- no, no, I need not give my being name to one of such low importance. Call me anything you wish, in the end it will not matter. Kingdom hearts, I control it. The light and the dark. Ah, yes. Your little god and devil beliefs. Call me... Devilo. Yes, that sounds suitable for someone like you. Will you turn to the darkness? Or dance in the light and fade away? Your choice, the door is in front of you. Going through it will lead you back to your island, the place you used to call home. But Kairi and Sora are not there. Both are far away, both hide the truth you seek. How will you do on this test, mortal? Will you find the key? Or will you wither away like all the others before you...
Head to your island. Your first step to your friends lies without struggle, with utmost release. With the path that seems right, turn to the path which seems dreadfully wrong. Only then, Riku. Only then." With that the being vanished, leaving no trace. Riku had no idea what was going on, but what he had to do was clear. Namine needed light to survive the darkness in her heart, the island had light. Turning towards the door, Riku opened it...and stepped in.
